Malaysia is committed to ensuring that the economic gains from Asean regional integration benefit everyone, particularly women, youth, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Speaking at the Asean-Malaysia Business Forum 2024 on Monday (Dec 9), Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz highlighted the ministry’s support for women entrepreneurs through initiatives such as the “Women in Trade and Industry” programme to strengthen their involvement in industrial and export sectors.
He also encouraged youth to actively participate in Asean activities next year to gain valuable exposure and experience.
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Speaking at the Asean-Malaysia Business Forum 2024 on Monday (Dec 9), Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz highlighted the ministry’s support for women entrepreneurs through initiatives such as the “Women in Trade and Industry” programme to strengthen their involvement in industrial and export sectors.
He also encouraged youth to actively participate in Asean activities next year to gain valuable exposure and experience.
WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline
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NewsTranscript
00:00So ladies and gentlemen, this is the fourth time we take on the ASEAN chairmanship.
00:09Our theme this year is inclusivity and sustainability.
00:15So those values will underscore the outcome-driven economic agenda which will be promoted
00:21and will be promoting as well through the ASEAN's economic pillar.
00:26So those values represent the urgent needs of our region, ASEAN.
00:32Some of you may ask, why?
00:34Because if Southeast Asia cannot become more inclusive,
00:39cannot become more sustainable,
00:41other achievements such as economic prosperity and tech innovation may prove to be just empty whims.
00:50So Malaysia is determined to ensure the economic wins of regional integration
00:56that will benefit all, including women, youth and micro, medium and small enterprises, or in short, MSMEs.
01:05All of you sitting here today, I think there are 800 of you sitting here today,
01:10you'll be glad to know that our intention is to promote the greatest participation
01:16from all of you in ASEAN's development next year.
01:20So you can contribute, not only growing Malaysia's economy, but also shaping ASEAN's economic future.
01:29So Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship also comes at a pivotal time for Malaysia.
01:35I say this because in the past two years, since the start of the Madani government,
01:42we have been busy with economic, fiscal and industrial reforms.
01:47Many of these efforts are showing results.
01:50So METI, we have two women direct representatives here,
01:55and for all your information, for the women who are here today,
02:00we just released our sustainability report, 69% KSU.
02:0769% of our top management in METI comprise of women.
02:18So that's why we are able to deliver, I think, a lot of things that my time might not be able to deliver.
02:26Anyway, but on women, METI and its agencies have been actively engaging women entrepreneurs.
02:33We have various programs, various platforms.
02:37And in July this year, METI actually launched our Women in Trade in Industry initiative, WITI.
02:43So with the initiative we launched, and then to boost the capacity of the women in industrial and export sectors,
02:50we've asked all agencies and ministries to have a WITI, a target that involves women as well.
02:58And we aim to help Malaysian female entrepreneurs connect to the regional entrepreneurs,
03:04to the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network.
03:07We call it AWEN, A-W-E-N, not AWEN, A-W-E-N.
03:12So this is actually a regional network of women-based organizations.
03:16So we have representing women in all economic sectors in the ASEAN member states.
03:22So we look forward to our Malaysian women entrepreneurs to participate together with ASEAN women entrepreneurs.
03:29Additionally, one side event you can look forward to is the ASEAN Women Economic Summit 2025,
03:37to be organized by METI and the Women Leadership Forum.
03:41And that's in May 2025, so you can find it in your diary.
03:46And we have another one also.
03:48We have the ASEAN Women Economic Forum in June next year.
04:00Myself and Wai Biliu will be attending this, and for all the women, Wai Biliu is still single.
04:06So we want to ensure that Malaysian women entrepreneurs will have greater access to opportunities,
04:14basically, within Malaysia and, of course, beyond in ASEAN.
04:19So for MSMEs, under the Strategic Trust 2, we have CUSCOR, Ministry of Development and Co-operative Malaysia,
04:27will be likely working on a key initiative for MSMEs' green transition.
04:33So METI will support this as well through our National Industry E&G Framework, which we launched last year,
04:39to guide manufacturing SMEs in producing their first sustainability report.
04:44And in terms of export to ASEAN, MSMEs should take advantage of the various FTAs with ASEAN countries,
04:52as well as ASEAN and other economic regions.
04:56We have the ARCEP, we have, of course, CBTBP, etc.
04:59And our agency, MARTRED, is also here to guide any companies wishing to spread their wings digitally, especially MSMEs.
05:09As for the youth, I mean, most of you are here today, the largest group.
05:13And, of course, today's event is largely about you.
05:18This is your opportunity to connect with like-minded youth and professionals who can assist you to go further,
05:26particularly within ASEAN.
05:29So do volunteer for some of the key ASEAN events that will be staged next year.
05:36This is good for your exposure, good for your networking, to build your career.
05:42So we'll be reaching out to you to see how you can also be part of the ASEAN forums, ASEAN meetings that will be held next year.
05:53So I'm sure the women and the youth present here today have also connected and networked with many companies, especially MSMEs.
06:01And as mentioned, there will be more opportunities next year where all of you can connect.
06:06So this is sort of the kick-off of our ASEAN initiative.